Not A Mark [Destiel High School AU]

1. First Day

A/N Hello, my dudes. I would like to say first off, that this is my first story. My grammar and spelling are generally really good, so I apologize for any mistakes. I'd love to read some comments, I'm always looking to improve, so please feel free.
I own the plot, though none of the characters.
Cover art credit goes to: not-a-single-fuck on Tumblr.

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3rd Person POV

Castiel sits in the driver's seat of his car on the way to a new school. He is nervous about starting over somewhere new, but also grateful for a fresh start.

No one knows him here.

In the passenger seat, sits Gabriel, babbling on about how long the drive is, and how '10th grade will be so much more difficult, starting two months into the school year.' Among other things.

To be honest, Castiel hasn't been listening since he began driving. Gabriel always has some sugared-up breakfast and can't stop talking until some of it wears off in an hour or two. Meanwhile, Cas is trying to plan out how best to approach this new environment:

Keep my head down, and focus on school alone? Make my way into a big friend group, and be set for the year? Find one good friend, and stick with them, under the radar for as long as possible?

Before he has a chance to decide anything, they roll up to the school, and Castiel is tugged abruptly from his thoughts by a string of Gabriel's questions.

"Hey, where do we go first? The office? Where is the office? Do you think we'll get a map? Or maybe a tour guide? How long do you think it'll take to get—."

"Gabe," Castiel interrupts pleadingly, "please, for the sake of my sanity, just give me a second."

"Sorry," Gabe shoots quickly, "I know you're stressed too."

Castiel doesn't reply as he begins walking towards the school, Truman High. He swallows hard. Here goes nothing.

~~~

Dean's morning has gone somewhat similarly: give sibling sugary breakfast, drive to school, and be 10 minutes late to class.

An excellent way to begin the week. Alternatively, he had noticed someone new in his first class. The trench coat-adorned teen was clearly anxious, eager to simply blend into the crowd. The teacher only made it worse by putting him on the spot, coaxing him to introduce himself.

He really doesn't seem to want all this attention, Dean thinks observationally, hopefully he'll keep that attitude up for a while...

After a few painstaking hours of awkward forced introductions, and weeks worth of catch up work to do, lunch finally arrives. Castiel had almost never been so relieved. Although, he and Gabriel had unfortunately organized to meet in the cafeteria.

They met elsewhere before walking to the cafeteria; almost all of the tables are full when they arrive. They eventually make their way up the absurd line of people waiting for the luke-warm piles of 'food.' Scoping out the over-stuffed room, the out-of-place pair eventually find two places at a mostly-occupied table.

"Hey, Cassie, it's a little crowded in here," Gabriel practically shouts, after an uncomfortably squished minute.

"I agree, we can't talk properly in here, let's just go, I'm sure we'll find something better," Castiel concurs, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder. The pair leave the overstuffed room, but not before catching the eyes of a leather-clad group in the center.